Nigerian and Ghanaian women, some of whom have lived in the UK for decades are among those facing deportation over a controversial Home Office charter flight.
Gatekeepers News reports that some of the women that are facing removal suffer from severe mental health problems and are on anti-psychotic medication.
According to the Guardian, at least 10 mothers are facing removal.
It is unusual to see such a large number of women on a deportation flight to the West African countries.
Meanwhile, human rights campaigners said there is a range of safety concerns for those that face deportation. The safety concerns include religious persecution, modern slavery, rights to family life, and persecution based on sexual orientation.
One of the affected mothers, a 40-year-old mother of three British children has previously been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. She fled Nigeria after being persecuted for being a Christian in a majority Muslim area and travelled to the UK in 2009 on a false passport. She was pregnant at the time and was imprisoned for travelling on a false passport.
She gave birth while in prison. Her children were later removed after she became seriously mentally ill.
Following this, the Home Office then evicted her because her children were no longer living with her. She ended up sleeping on the streets behind a church.
In reaction to the latest development, the woman said, “How can the Home Office separate me from my children? I’m not going to let it happen. If they force me to go, I will die. I will kill myself. I escaped Nigeria to save my life.”
Adeniyi Raji, a 48-year-old gay man is also facing removal to Nigeria for a second time. In 2017 when Raji was the first deported, he said, “I’m in the UK because I need protection. If I’m returned to Nigeria, they will kill me.”
Raji shared screenshots of death threats he had received from people in Nigeria. One said, “So after all that we did to you before, you are still a practising homosexual. Wait until we see you down here, that will be the end of you.”
Meanwhile, anyone found in the category of LGBTI risks a 14-year jail term in Nigeria. On the other hand, in the northern states, where Sharia law prevails, the punishment is death.
Maria Brul of the charity Detention Action said, “This Ghana and Nigeria mass charter flight is due to forcibly expel many women with British children, some of who have lived here for over 25 years.”
Director of the charity Medical Justice, Emma Ginn said, “We fear that our clients with severe mental health issues will be removed without having had a rule 35 report exploring any history of torture, trafficking, suicide risk, and medical conditions. They are in a long queue to get an appointment for one of these reports from the healthcare unit. There continue to be serious defects in the detention safeguarding systems.”
A Home Office spokesperson added that “The UK only ever returns individuals to their country of origin when the Home Office and, where applicable, the courts deem it is safe to do so.
“All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest country information. The New Plan for Immigration will fix the broken immigration system and expedite the removal of those with no right to be here.”
